The ‘Drop’ reopens in New Orleans, ushering in a second era of Black cultural renaissance

By Shawniece Mitchell
Contributing Writer

From Ray Charles to Lil’ Richard to Ike and Tina Turner, the “Drop” as it was affectionately called in New Orleans, was a space where both the social and civic advancement of the Black community took place. Described as “New Orleans’ swankiest nightclub” from the 1940s through the 1970s, the Dew Drop Inn ushered in the rise of rhythm and blues and a space for the Black community in the segregated South to have a nightclub space, hotel, barbershop and beauty parlor all-in-one. Now 50 years later, the timeless history of The Dew Drop Inn has been brought back to life, reopening in 2024, to usher in another era of Black creativity and enterprise.

“This is a place of inclusivity, always has been and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” said Lesli Harris, New Orleans City Councilmember for District B, who attend the grand reopening in March.

The Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge was known in the 1950s and 1960s as a nationwide hub for Black entertainment, delivering a space to showcase the biggest black performing acts and celebrities, and to foster fellowship across New Orleans. The history is literally etched onto the walls of the inn, showcasing the unique contributions of the space to American popular culture. The Dew Drop Inn was known especially to the Black community as an important and influential club of its time. It was also considered a formative space for the development of rhythm and blues in the South, and across the country. Its historic reopening served as a fresh start for the business and as a sentimental offering to the city.

“I mean we got great stories. What we’ve contributed to this society a lot of times people just relegate it to music, but it’s way beyond that. We’ve made so many contributions but a lot of times our stories aren’t told, so, I think that it’s important that we tell our own story and we want to demonstrate here that it could be done that way,” said Curtis Doucette Jr, the owner and the developer of the Dew Drop Inn.

To relaunch its community presence, the inn hosted a “Revival Night,” and a weekend long celebration in March that featured performances from The Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues icon Deacon John, and the reformed Dew Drop Legacy Revue Band led by musical director Ron Jones, the son of the late Joe Jones.

These talents represent the Dew Drop’s musical history and what the inn stood for, the showcasing of Black ability and community. Music and business made the Dew Drop what it was and today, through the works of a new generation of Black artists and community members coming together, the inn hopes to serve as a revived space to preserve this legacy.

“Just to continue living in the spirit of what the business always was. I often think, “what would the Dew Drop have been if it were still alive?” An uninterrupted spirit. We really want to live that, so yes, we want to celebrate the past but we also want to move forward in the future and in the spirit of what it used to be,” Doucette said.

The Dew Drop Inn served as a force for advancing the community through its celebration of culture and art, and with its reopening, it hopes to restore this reputation.

“Today marks a historic moment as we come together to cut the ribbon and officially open the doors to the new Dew Drop Inn,” said Kelvin Luster, the senior vice president and community development director for Home Bank, at the March 1 ribbon cutting ceremony.

“This has become a place where the present meets the past in a symphony of entertainment and cultural riches,” Luster said.

This article originally published in the April 22, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.